Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this aliyah, we begin Parshas Matot with the essential halachos of nedarim (vows) and shevuos (oaths). Moshe Rabbeinu addresses the heads of the tribes, teaching the strict Torah obligation to keep one's word and the specific mechanisms of how a father or a husband can annul the vows of a young woman or wife under their authority.
Following these laws, Hashem commands Moshe to wage a war of vengeance against the Midianites for their role in leading Bnei Yisrael astray. Moshe mobilizes a force of twelve thousand men, led by Pinchas, who defeat Midian, execute their five kings along with the wicked Balaam, and return with the captives and spoils of war.
All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.
פָּסוּק א
Pasuk 1
וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶלtoרָאשֵׁיthe heads ofהַמַּטּוֹתthe tribesלִבְנֵיof the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלֵאמֹרsayingזֶהthis isהַדָּבָרthe thingאֲשֶׁרwhichצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָה׃Hashem
פָּסוּק ב
Pasuk 2
אִישׁA manכִּיwhenיִדֹּרhe vowsנֶדֶרa vowלַיהוָהto Hashemאוֹorהִשָּׁבַעswearsשְׁבֻעָהan oathלֶאְסֹרto bindאִסָּרa prohibitionעַלuponנַפְשׁוֹhis soulלֹאnotיַחֵלshall he profaneדְּבָרוֹhis wordכְּכָלaccording to allהַיֹּצֵאthat proceedsמִפִּיוfrom his mouthיַעֲשֶׂה׃he shall do
פָּסוּק ג
Pasuk 3
וְאִשָּׁהAnd a womanכִּיwhenתִדֹּרshe vowsנֶדֶרa vowלַיהוָהto Hashemוְאָסְרָהor bindsאִסָּרan obligationבְּבֵיתin the house ofאָבִיהָher fatherבִּנְעֻרֶיהָ׃in her youth
פָּסוּק ד
Pasuk 4
וְשָׁמַעand hearsאָבִיהָher fatherאֶת—נִדְרָהּher vowוֶאֱסָרָהּor her obligationאֲשֶׁרwhichאָסְרָהshe boundעַלuponנַפְשָׁהּher soulוְהֶחֱרִישׁand remains silentלָהּto herאָבִיהָher fatherוְקָמוּthen shall standכָּלallנְדָרֶיהָher vowsוְכָלand everyאִסָּרobligationאֲשֶׁרwhichאָסְרָהshe boundעַלuponנַפְשָׁהּher soulיָקוּם׃shall stand
פָּסוּק ה
Pasuk 5
וְאִםBut ifהֵנִיאrestrainedאָבִיהָher fatherאֹתָהּherבְּיוֹםon the day ofשָׁמְעוֹhis hearingכָּלall ofנְדָרֶיהָher vowsוֶאֱסָרֶיהָand her prohibitionsאֲשֶׁרwhichאָסְרָהshe boundעַלuponנַפְשָׁהּher soulלֹאshall notיָקוּםstandוַיהוָהand Hashemיִסְלַחwill forgiveלָהּherכִּיbecauseהֵנִיאrestrainedאָבִיהָher fatherאֹתָהּ׃her
פָּסוּק ו
Pasuk 6
וְאִםAnd ifהָיוֹbelongingתִהְיֶהshe should beלְאִישׁto a husbandוּנְדָרֶיהָand her vowsעָלֶיהָare upon herאוֹorמִבְטָאan utterance ofשְׂפָתֶיהָher lipsאֲשֶׁרwhichאָסְרָהshe boundעַלuponנַפְשָׁהּ׃herself
פָּסוּק ז
Pasuk 7
וְשָׁמַעand hearsאִישָׁהּher husbandבְּיוֹםon the day ofשָׁמְעוֹhis hearingוְהֶחֱרִישׁand he remains silentלָהּto herוְקָמוּthen shall standנְדָרֶיהָher vowsוֶאֱסָרֶהָand her obligationsאֲשֶׁרwhichאָסְרָהshe boundעַלuponנַפְשָׁהּher soulיָקֻמוּ׃shall stand
פָּסוּק ח
Pasuk 8
וְאִםBut ifבְּיוֹםon the day ofשְׁמֹעַhearingאִישָׁהּher husbandיָנִיאhe restrainsאוֹתָהּherוְהֵפֵרand he annulsאֶת—נִדְרָהּher vowאֲשֶׁרwhich isעָלֶיהָupon herוְאֵתand —מִבְטָאthe utterance ofשְׂפָתֶיהָher lipsאֲשֶׁרwhichאָסְרָהshe boundעַלuponנַפְשָׁהּherselfוַיהוָהand Hashemיִסְלַחwill forgiveלָהּ׃her
פָּסוּק ט
Pasuk 9
וְנֵדֶרAnd the vow ofאַלְמָנָהa widowוּגְרוּשָׁהor a divorceeכֹּלeverythingאֲשֶׁרwhichאָסְרָהshe prohibitedעַלuponנַפְשָׁהּherselfיָקוּםshall standעָלֶיהָ׃upon her
פָּסוּק י
Pasuk 10
וְאִםAnd ifבֵּיתin the house ofאִישָׁהּher husbandנָדָרָהshe vowedאוֹorאָסְרָהshe boundאִסָּרan obligationעַלuponנַפְשָׁהּherselfבִּשְׁבֻעָה׃with an oath
פָּסוּק יא
Pasuk 11
וְשָׁמַעand hearsאִישָׁהּher husbandוְהֶחֱרִשׁand he is silentלָהּto herלֹאnotהֵנִיאhe restrainedאֹתָהּherוְקָמוּand shall standכָּלall ofנְדָרֶיהָher vowsוְכָלand everyאִסָּרobligationאֲשֶׁרwhichאָסְרָהshe boundעַלuponנַפְשָׁהּher soulיָקוּם׃shall stand
פָּסוּק יב
Pasuk 12
וְאִםBut ifהָפֵרannullingיָפֵרshall annulאֹתָםthemאִישָׁהּher husbandבְּיוֹםon the day ofשָׁמְעוֹhis hearingכָּלanyמוֹצָאutterance ofשְׂפָתֶיהָher lipsלִנְדָרֶיהָregarding her vowsוּלְאִסַּרor regarding the obligation ofנַפְשָׁהּher soulלֹאshall notיָקוּםstandאִישָׁהּher husbandהֲפֵרָםhas annulled themוַיהוָהand Hashemיִסְלַחwill forgiveלָהּ׃her
פָּסוּק יג
Pasuk 13
כָּלEveryנֵדֶרvowוְכָלand everyשְׁבֻעַתoath ofאִסָּרobligationלְעַנֹּתto afflictנָפֶשׁsoulאִישָׁהּher husbandיְקִימֶנּוּmay uphold itוְאִישָׁהּand her husbandיְפֵרֶנּוּ׃may annul it
פָּסוּק יד
Pasuk 14
וְאִםAnd ifהַחֲרֵשׁsilenceיַחֲרִישׁhe keeps silentלָהּto herאִישָׁהּher husbandמִיּוֹםfrom dayאֶלtoיוֹםdayוְהֵקִיםthen he establishesאֶת—כָּלall ofנְדָרֶיהָher vowsאוֹorאֶת—כָּלall ofאֱסָרֶיהָher obligationsאֲשֶׁרwhichעָלֶיהָare upon herהֵקִיםhe has establishedאֹתָםthemכִּיbecauseהֶחֱרִשׁhe kept silentלָהּto herבְּיוֹםon the day ofשָׁמְעוֹ׃his hearing
פָּסוּק טו
Pasuk 15
וְאִםAnd ifהָפֵרannulיָפֵרhe shall annulאֹתָםthemאַחֲרֵיafterשָׁמְעוֹhis hearingוְנָשָׂאthen he shall bearאֶת—עֲוֺנָהּ׃her guilt
פָּסוּק טז
Pasuk 16
אֵלֶּהThese areהַחֻקִּיםthe statutesאֲשֶׁרwhichצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—מֹשֶׁהMosheבֵּיןbetweenאִישׁa manלְאִשְׁתּוֹand his wifeבֵּיןbetweenאָבa fatherלְבִתּוֹand his daughterבִּנְעֻרֶיהָin her youthבֵּיתin the house ofאָבִיהָ׃her father
פָּסוּק יז
Pasuk 17
וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheלֵּאמֹר׃saying
פָּסוּק יח
Pasuk 18
נְקֹםAvengeנִקְמַתthe vengeance ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelמֵאֵתfromהַמִּדְיָנִיםthe Midianitesאַחַרafterwardתֵּאָסֵףyou shall be gatheredאֶלtoעַמֶּיךָ׃your people
פָּסוּק יט
Pasuk 19
וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶלtoהָעָםthe peopleלֵאמֹרsayingהֵחָלְצוּarmמֵאִתְּכֶםfrom among youאֲנָשִׁיםmenלַצָּבָאfor the armyוְיִהְיוּand they shall beעַלagainstמִדְיָןMidianלָתֵתto executeנִקְמַתthe vengeance ofיְהוָהHashemבְּמִדְיָן׃upon Midian
פָּסוּק כ
Pasuk 20
אֶלֶףA thousandלַמַּטֶּהfor the tribeאֶלֶףa thousandלַמַּטֶּהfor the tribeלְכֹלfor allמַטּוֹתthe tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelתִּשְׁלְחוּyou shall sendלַצָּבָא׃to the army
פָּסוּק כא
Pasuk 21
וַיִּמָּסְרוּAnd there were deliveredמֵאַלְפֵיfrom the thousands ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֶלֶףa thousandלַמַּטֶּהfor each tribeשְׁנֵיםtwelveעָשָׂר·אֶלֶףthousandחֲלוּצֵיarmed forצָבָא׃the army
פָּסוּק כב
Pasuk 22
וַיִּשְׁלַחAnd sentאֹתָםthemמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶלֶףa thousandלַמַּטֶּהfor the tribeלַצָּבָאto the armyאֹתָםthemוְאֶתand —פִּינְחָסPinechasבֶּןson ofאֶלְעָזָרElazarהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenלַצָּבָאto the armyוּכְלֵיand the vessels ofהַקֹּדֶשׁthe Sanctuaryוַחֲצֹצְרוֹתand the trumpets ofהַתְּרוּעָהthe soundingבְּיָדוֹ׃in his hand
פָּסוּק כג
Pasuk 23
וַיִּצְבְּאוּAnd they massedעַלagainstמִדְיָןMidianכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—מֹשֶׁהMosheוַיַּהַרְגוּand they killedכָּלeveryזָכָר׃male
פָּסוּק כד
Pasuk 24
וְאֶתAnd —מַלְכֵיthe kings ofמִדְיָןMidianהָרְגוּthey killedעַלbesidesחַלְלֵיהֶםtheir slainאֶת—אֱוִיEviוְאֶתand —רֶקֶםRekemוְאֶתand —צוּרZurוְאֶתand —חוּרHurוְאֶתand —רֶבַעRebaחֲמֵשֶׁתthe five ofמַלְכֵיthe kings ofמִדְיָןMidianוְאֵתand —בִּלְעָםBilaamבֶּןson ofבְּעוֹרBeorהָרְגוּthey killedבֶּחָרֶב׃with the sword
פָּסוּק כה
Pasuk 25
וַיִּשְׁבּוּAnd they capturedבְנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֶת—נְשֵׁיthe women ofמִדְיָןMidianוְאֶתand —טַפָּםtheir childrenוְאֵתand —כָּלall ofבְּהֶמְתָּםtheir beastsוְאֶתand —כָּלall ofמִקְנֵהֶםtheir livestockוְאֶתand —כָּלall ofחֵילָםtheir wealthבָּזָזוּ׃they plundered
פָּסוּק כו
Pasuk 26
וְאֵתand —כָּלall ofעָרֵיהֶםtheir citiesבְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָםin their dwellingsוְאֵתand —כָּלall ofטִירֹתָםtheir towersשָׂרְפוּthey burnedבָּאֵשׁ׃with fire
פָּסוּק כז
Pasuk 27
וַיִּקְחוּAnd they tookאֶת—כָּלall ofהַשָּׁלָלthe spoilוְאֵתand —כָּלall ofהַמַּלְקוֹחַthe bootyבָּאָדָםamong humanוּבַבְּהֵמָה׃and among animal
פָּסוּק כח
Pasuk 28
וַיָּבִאוּAnd they broughtאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאֶלand toאֶלְעָזָרElazarהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenוְאֶלand toעֲדַתthe congregation ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֶת—הַשְּׁבִיthe captivesוְאֶתand —הַמַּלְקוֹחַthe preyוְאֶתand —הַשָּׁלָלthe spoilאֶלtoהַמַּחֲנֶהthe campאֶלtoעַרְבֹתthe plains ofמוֹאָבMoavאֲשֶׁרwhich isעַלbyיַרְדֵּןthe Yarden ofיְרֵחוֹ׃Yerecho
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The aliyah begins by establishing that a person must not break their spoken word, detailing how a father may annul the vows of his young daughter, and how a husband may annul or confirm the vows of his wife. It then transitions to the military campaign against Midian, where Bnei Yisrael dispatch one thousand men from each tribe, slay the male population and the five Midianite kings, execute Balaam, and bring the captives, livestock, and spoils back to Moshe and Eleazar the Kohen at the camp in the steppes of Moab.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
The Torah begins this parshah with the laws of nedarim, warning us: "He shall not break his word; according to all that comes out of his mouth, he shall do." Immediately afterward, Hashem commands Moshe Rabbeinu to wage the war against Midian, telling him that after this final mission, "you shall be gathered to your kin." Moshe knew that completing this task would bring about his own histalkus, yet he did not delay for a single moment. He spoke to the people and sent them to battle immediately, fulfilling Hashem's word with absolute selflessness.
Look at the beautiful connection between these two subjects. The power of a Yid lies in the sanctity of his mouth. When we speak, our words are not cheap; they create reality, they bind us, and they must be treated with the utmost holiness. Moshe Rabbeinu lived this truth to the ultimate degree. When Hashem spoke a word to him, even when that word meant the end of his physical life in this world, Moshe did not hesitate. He did not try to delay or make excuses. What came out of Hashem's mouth, Moshe fulfilled instantly.
We often make small commitments to ourselves, to others, or to Hashem. We say we will learn a certain shiur, give a specific amount of tzedakah, or avoid a certain bad habit. But when the yetzer hara comes with excuses, we let those words slide, thinking, "It was just something I said." The Torah is teaching us that your word is holy. When you speak, you are using the divine gift of speech. To be a true eved Hashem means that your word is an ironclad bond.
Today, choose one small commitment or promise you made to yourself, to a friend, or to Hashem, and fulfill it immediately without any delay or excuses.